The Essentials Fund provides over $40,000 to 14 community organizations

For Immediate Release – September 18, 2023

Launched in 2022, The Essentials Fund was created to help community organizations support their clients’ essential needs by giving them the flexibility to purchase needed items, when they are needed.

“The Essentials Fund received tremendous support from Waterloo Region community members during our second annual Spring fundraising campaign, raising over $40,000. Many applications were received highlighting the growing need in our community for this type of support. We are excited to share that the funds will be spread across 14 organizations in our community!” 

Allyson Kroetsch – Essentials Fund Co-Founder

In August and September, the following 14 community organizations received an unrestricted grant of $2900 to provide essential items for their clients:

• Brain Injury Association of Waterloo-Wellington
• Camino Wellbeing + Mental Health
• Canadian Arab Women’s Association
• Community Justice Initiatives 
• Family & Children’s Services of the Waterloo Region
• Porchlight Counselling and Addiction Services
• Sanguen Health Centre
• Send’em Off Smiling
• Sexual Assault Support Centre of Waterloo Region
• SHORE Centre
• SHOW – Supportive Housing of Waterloo
• Somali Canadian Association of Waterloo Region
• Waterloo Region Family Network
• Women’s Crisis Services of Waterloo Region        

The Essentials Fund is led by an organizing committee of community volunteers (Jane Arnold, Allyson Kroetsch, Holly Manning, Eleanor McGrath, Claire Anderson, Kany Doski, Rose Greensides, Mike Pereira, Tom Galloway, Laura Galbraith) who recognize and appreciate the vital work being done by Waterloo Region charities and organizations.

“As community volunteers, we are so pleased to support these organizations and their vital work in our community. A big thank you to our donors because without your support, we would not be able to provide these much-needed unrestricted grants to help community organizations provide essential items needed by their clients including bus tickets, hygiene items like soap, shampoo, toothbrushes and toothpaste and seasonal clothing among many other items. We also appreciate Waterloo Region Community Foundation’s continuing support in administering The Essentials Fund.”

Jane Arnold, Essentials Fund Co-Founder

For more details about the Fund, please connect with Jane Arnold and Allyson Kroetsch at essentialsfundWR@gmail.com or follow us on social media – Facebook , Twitter and Instagram for updates.